On the eve of the July 31 runoff, Texas Gov. Rick Perry will headline a lavish fundraiser in Dallas for David Dewhurst’s Senate campaign.

Dewhurst, the state’s lieutenant governor, is in a tough fight against former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz for the GOP Senate nomination.

Perry has endorsed Dewhurst for the seat that is now held by retiring Dallas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The July 30 event is being held in Preston Hollow and features numerous Dallas-area business leaders. The guest list includes businessmen George Bayoud, Harlan Crow, James Francis, Stephen Jones, Harold Simmons and Brint Ryan.

Also on the host committee is Texas Sen. John Carona of Dallas and former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.

Leppert finished third in the May 29 GOP Senate Primary. On Tuesday he endorsed Dewhurst over Cruz.

Dewhurst has used some of his vast fortune to fund his Senate campaign, and the upcoming fundraiser could help him pay down his debt and prepare, if he beats Cruz, for what’s expected to be an easy general election fight against a Democratic challenger.

The runoff is July 31 and analysts expect only a fraction of Texas voters at the polls.